A pilot is facing disciplinary action after allowing Imran Khan's ex-wife to sit in the cockpit for 'a few minutes' during a flight from London to Lahore.

Reham Khan, a former BBC weathergirl, was granted access by the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) staff member despite it being illegal.

'Ms Reham expressed her wish to sit in the cockpit which the pilot could not turn down,' PIA spokesperson Danial Gilani told news agency PTI.

A Pakistan International Airlines pilot is facing disciplinary action after allowing Imran Khan's ex-wife, Reham, to sit in the cockpit for 'a few minutes' during a flight from London to Lahore. Above the couple, who married in January, but were divorced just ten months later

Ms Khan, a divorced mother-of-three, was a BBC weathergirl but went on to become an anchor on Pakistan news channel AAJ TV

'Ms Reham expressed her wish to sit in the cockpit which the pilot could not turn down,' PIA spokesperson Danial Gilani told news agency PTI

'Although it appears to be courtesy on the part of the pilot, the PIA cannot ignore the rules. Under the law, unauthorised persons cannot enter the cockpit,' he said, according to NDTV.

According to the pilot, he 'entertained' the request during the incident yesterday on flight PK-788.

The cricketer-turned-politician, 62, married mother-of-three Reham, 42, in January this year and got divorced just ten months later, on October 30.

'I have the greatest respect for Reham's moral character & her passion to work for & help the underprivileged.'

He said speculation about any financial settlements between them were 'absolutely false and shameful'.

Mrs Khan tweeted at the time: 'We have decided to part ways and file for divorce.'

Reham, who was born in Libya to Pakistani parents, has three children from her previous marriage to a doctor.

The little-known journalist endured criticism on social media from conservative Muslim Pakistanis after her marriage to Khan became public and pictures and videos surfaced of her on-screen in Western outfits.

Imran Khan, who developed a playboy reputation in his younger days, built a political power base in Pakistan's deeply conservative north.

His party became the country's third largest in a 2013 election after he advocated talks with Pakistani Taliban insurgents and criticised the United States for drone strikes in militant areas.